Abstract
Intracerebroventricular (icv) bolus injection of cortico-tropin releasing factor (CRF) induces hypermetabolism, catecholamine surge and excess adrenocortical hormone secretion. Chronic icv CRF infusion in rats induces this stress-like picture for 2-3 days. However, corticosterone (B) excretion falls below that of sham rats by day 5. This dampened response to sustained CRF resembles the “adrenal exhaustion” phenomenon described in severe trauma and led to the present study: Jugular catheters were placed prior to icv cannulation and chronic delivery of CRF 20 ug/d or of saline. Hypersecretion of B on day 2 (0.7 ±0.15 ug/d) in CRF rats was suppressed on day 5 (0.3 ±.05, n=8, p<0.01). A 10 ug iv CRF bolus on day 5 caused exaggerated ACTH coupled with elevated plasma B:These results suggest: a suppressed adrenal function induced by chronic icv CRF similar to that after severe trauma and 2) a hypothalamic abnormality rather than primary pituitary or adrenal failure.
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